REBEL CONTACT

[interstellarnpcs]

SHEP

GOLD

SILVER

Comments

GOLD

[interstellarebels]

[By far the more outgoing and social of the masked music duo, Gold seems to be the musical magic specialist in the group. They like to help when they can. You can contact them over the network here.]

Communicator

[lateforkindergarten]

[ Amethyst chooses to try contacting the friendlier of the helmeted leaders, it seems like a no-brainer. ]

Hey. I have a question.

Why would one of those label CEOs watch a regular human real closely if he's not the kinda guy who causes trouble? He doesn't even know how to use a weapon! I mean... I know that they all have body guards following them but when I ran into Greg he acted like they're watching him way closer than that. Like the boss man is breathing down his neck or something!

[ Despite letting off some steam on her own earlier the thought still gets her riled up again. ]

[interstellarebels]

Oh, Greg? Probably because they are.

Nobody explained the whole music magic thing to you, huh? He's one of the best at it from the last year's captives.

[lateforkindergarten]

[ Greg is one of the best at "music magic." ]

Magic?! Greg has magic?! He's always been so freaked out about powers though! He wasn't able to do that back home!

[ No. No one explained. And even if they did she wouldn't have thought of Greg first. ]

I'm not sure Greg is going to want it. Like when he wakes up and remembers who he is I mean. Maybe he likes it now but he might not like it so much later when he's his normal self.

[interstellarebels]

I sort of figure he's already part ways there. But hey, people don't choose their talents, right? I can assure you, music magic is pretty sweet when it comes down to it.

Communicator; March 15th

[eba02]

So. Fun question. You know I hear people's Music, right?

...do people's tunes 'round here...change very often?

[interstellarebels]

Uhhh. Depends! A tune is one of those you specific things, right? Because people aren't really that static in my experience. The music you put out is an act of will, right?

[eba02]

Not really. Most people can't hear the Music, so they don't know about their tunes. An', well, people change over time, an' their tunes change with 'em, but what I've been hearin' is pretty drastic.

[Wait. Wait.]

Hang on, are you sayin' yours is an act of will?

[interstellarebels]

[There's a startled pause.]

I dunno, dude, like...I can't hear what you're hearing either. It's different for me. I only know what I put out, I mean...music ties in with emotion and thought on a fundamental level, but...

A song is a spell.

[eba02]

[How can they be talking about music and still be speaking completely different languages?]

[Also - and this is a horrifying thought - does that mean Gold's tune is dissonant at will?]

So what I'm hearin' is, if you've got music magic, you can choose what you sound like.

[interstellarebels]

Yeah, pretty much! Like, if you don't, you're just going to sound like you sound...but that depends on your personal narrative. It's not like a constant thing so much as it's a complicated web of situational factors - you can sense tons of shit if you know how to read it, but it's not the same thing as the soul. Souls have pitches, not songs.

So...if you know how to spin music, obviously you can surround yourself in whatever kind of stuff you want.

[eba02]

[That. That's. Huh.]

[He'd known he was out of his league listening to Blanche and Santiago's tunes, but this just kind of hammers it home. People here are operating on an entirely different level, and he doesn't know how to even come close to it.]

That explains a lot.

The kidnapped people who're startin' to get magic of their own - can they do that too? [Because that's going to cause problems for him, if they change their tunes so much he can't tap them.]

[interstellarebels]

Sure, probably! Like I said, nothing about this is unusual around here. Even normal people are going to sound different depending on what's going on...but I think you're hearing something different than what I'm talking about.

Can I ask...? What do I sound like to you? I'm super curious.

[eba02]

[Yeah, that sounds absolutely nothing like what he's used to. People's tunes don't change that abruptly, in his experience; at least he has an explanation as to Blanche and Santiago.]

Sounds like we're playin' the same game with different rules.

[UM. That sure is an awkward pause.]

There ain't really a good way to say this...

You sound like the world's worst mashup. Like, somehow you got two tunes an' they're workin' against each other.

[interstellarebels]

[There's a long pause, and then a little laugh - slightly odd sounding, with its digitized tone.]

I feel like someone at a fortune teller, you know? You say that and I'm all like "ah, damn, that makes sense!" Except...does it really? I dunno.

I think so, though. I think I get where that's coming from.

Communicator; March 24th; he's gonna put Gold on speed dial if this keeps up

[eba02]

What was in that powder, anyway?

March 29th: It's a few days before Gold gets back to him.

[interstellarebels]

The powder is sort of complicated to describe. Why?

GDIT Gold answer your voice mails

[eba02]

Everyone who had it - it changed their tunes, at the same time, in the same way.

Immediately, this time.

[interstellarebels]

Like I told you guys, its meant to break off some of the symbiotic connection they have with their execs. I don't really get what kind of stuff you hear, but it makes sense that it'd change a few things.

Later. Far later. Because I am on top of things I promise.

[eba02]

[Guess who sounds suspicious and upset. Guess who's been sitting on this question for a few weeks and needs answers. Guess.]

What else did it change?

Like a day later.

[interstellarebels]

[Gold will call him up directly instead of leaving messages, wanting a direct one on one. If they get a hold of them, he'll get:]

Hey, why don't you just tell me what you're sensing instead? Maybe I can explain it to you.

[eba02]

[He would feel really special if he weren't already really stressed out and upset. Gold manages to catch him while he's alone in the apartment, so privacy is a bonus.]

Hello to you too.

[But somehow there's always room for sass. He sobers up pretty quickly, though.]

Musician's tunes all have parts of the label they belong to in 'em. Virgo people have Blanche's backbeat, an' Pride people have Santiago's treble. Thing is, people who got the powder got somethin' else on top of that. [He pauses, and:] They're connected to someone else.

Who is it.

[interstellarebels]

[Given it's a live phone call, J gets to here all 6 seconds of hesitation from Gold, until finally...]

...We should talk about this in person.

[eba02]

If you've got something to say, name a time and place, face to face.

May 3rd

[eba02]

[J came prepared to leave a message; if Gold isn't answering the communicator with Silver calls, then there's pretty much a zero percent chance they'll answer it for J.]

Hey. I know I'm probably one of the last people you wanna hear from right now, an'...I get it.

But you gotta know, things aren't good right now. I dunno if you're still in Vista, but it's gettin' worse down here. They're gearin' up for their music festival or portal to the cosmos or whatever they're doin', an' the Music is bad. It's drivin' people crazy, an' it's pretty tough to deal with.

...look, Silver needs you. They're up a creek right now, they got no one to help 'em, an' they're worried about you - scared something's gonna happen to you. I know you don't wanna talk to 'em, and I know you definitely don't wanna hear this from me, but...just...talk to 'em, okay? At least let 'em know you're alright. They need something to go on right now, an' that'll help.

...yeah. I...whatever you're doin', just...don't get killed, okay? Or anythin' else. Silver ain't the only one who still needs you around.

For what it's worth, I haven't told anyone about...what happened. So, there's that.

...so yeah. Just...stay safe.